Taylor and his colleagues significantly improved photovoltaic performance by applying highly conductive, thin dimethyl sulfoxide (DSMO)-enhanced layers of PEDOT:PSS for certain perovskite solar cells. Perovskite cells have attracted attention recently for their broad light absorption and efficiency, among other features. The researchers reported a 37 percent boost in power conversion efficiency as well as improved durability by using the PEDOT:PSS, which is a popular material for connectivity.

George Institute of Technology Professor Zhiqun Lin, who collaborated on the collection for Nanoscale, explained why the journal decided to aggregate the perovskite research: “The past several years have been witness to an unprecedented advance in perovskite-based materials and devices. This new class of materials possesses a set of superior optoelectronic properties, including tunable direct band gaps, large absorption coefficient, high ambipolar mobility, long carrier diffusion lengths, small exciton binding energy, and high defect tolerance. In this context, it is pertinent to compile this themed issue centering on recent rapid development in the field of perovskite-based materials and devices for the solar energy conversion research community.”